Creating a Delay in Actuating a Solenoid

[TimeOut]

We have two Pneumatic Solenoids that are actuated using the trigger button on either joystick. One solenoid controls a gate and the other solenoid controls a platform that can be tilted.

The goal is that we lower the gate about 500ms (1/2 sec) before the platform tilts.

Getting both solenoids to actuate at the same time is easy enough. However, getting one to actuate, then wait for 500ms and then actuate the second one is a more difficult problem.

If anyone has a starting point here we could use the help.

Sean

[Alan Anderson]

Chain the error output of the first solenoid set to the error input of a "delay and feed" watchdog, then chain the watchdog's error output to the error input of the second solenoid set. That's a simple way to do sequencing with delays.

Is that a good starting point?

[TimeOut]

Yep, I'll give that a try when we hit the bot again on Monday.

Thanks!
Sean

[Team1268]

Hi Alan and Timeout...

We are working with a similar programming senario... I am new to the idea of a "watchdog."

We want to program a button to trigger the first solenoid, wait two seconds, and trigger a second solenoid. When we wired up the watchdog as previously described, it loops like we got caught in an infinate loop.

I am not at school and cannot send a screenshoot right now. but I will post it ASAP. Is their another way to sequence besides using watchdogs in LV?

[Lumit]

The delay and feed watchdog vi will freeze your motor control... This is for teleop, correct?
teleop is in a loop, and delays will shut down all control until it is done.

You'll probably want a state machine: http://frcmastery.com/try-me/state-machines/

[Team1268]

Thanks for everyone's help... the frcmastery tutorial was key!